Hand corn-planter



l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BIGKERTON, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

HAND CORN-PLAIvTi-m.

SPECIFICATION forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 226,701, dated April 20, 1880.

I Application filed February 5, 1880.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BICKERTON, of Lawrence, Douglas county, State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hand Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the improved device, showing the plates closed. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, showing the plates open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved plates, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the improved dropslide.

Similar letters of 'reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to construct a hand corn-planter with a drop-slide which shall accurately drop the corn, and with end plates shaped so as to prevent dirt from gettin gbetween them when thrustinto the ground.

The `invention consists in a hand cornplanter having two plates, one longer than the other, and provided with a bevelpointed ange, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, A A represent the handles of the planter. (Shown in dotted lines.) B represents the hopper or receiver, and G the ilexible sides ot' said hopper or receiver, both in dotted lines, the said flexible sides B being ordinarily constructed of some woven fabric, and made ordinarily to extend down as far as the hinge of the plates, as shown.

D is the drop-slide, out away or inclined on its upper face, as shown at a, and provided with a central feed-opening, b, through which the corn drops.

E is the longer of the end plates, whose point is beveled both ways to a sharp edge, as shown at d, which bevel forms a iange or notch, f, above the edge d and on the inner face of the said plate E, connected with they enter with a sharp point and smooth faces, like a wedge. y

When the handles A A are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the feed-hole b of the dropslide D is within the hopper C, as shown, and is filled with corn enough t'or planting in one hill. Then when the handles A A are drawn apart, as shown in Fig. 1, the drop-slide D, whose smaller end is pinned to one of the handles A through the hole h, is drawn outward from the hopper C, so that the hole b is then between the handles A A, the further opening of the handles A A being prevented by the stud o, which is set in the face of the dropslide.

In the position shown in Fig. 1 the eorn drops from the hole b down between the closed plates E E and the plates are then thrust into the ground. rlhen the handles AA are again brought together, as shown in Fig. 2, the plates E E open, and the corn drops from between them. The plates are then closed by a suitable movement of handles A A and withdrawn from the ground, and the operation is repeated as may be desired; but it will be seen that the bevel-flange j', shutting over the end of the shorter plate E', prevents dirt from getting between the plates E E when thrustinto the ground, and consequently much time and trouble are saved that are necessary to keep the plates of ordinary planters unelogged and in good operating` order.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A hand cornplanter constructed with a THOMAS BIGKERTON.

Y 'Witnesses CHAs. GHADWICK, En. GANARAN. 

